Made in the Upstate: Jankel's BLASTech seats keep soldiers in war zones safe

Monday

Dec 23, 2013 at 11:40 PM

With its national headquarters in Duncan, Jankel Tactical Systems is a leading producer of armored vehicles and BLASTech seats that protect soldiers from fire and explosives.

By LYNNE P. SHACKLEFORDlynne.shackleford@shj.com

With its national headquarters in Duncan, Jankel Tactical Systems is a leading producer of armored vehicles and BLASTech seats that protect soldiers from fire and explosives.Jankel CEO Todd Littleton said the company had other facilities in the United Kingdom and Jordan, but had launched a search for a U.S. headquarters in 2008.“We looked all over the U.S., and we were quite impressed with the strength of the automotive market particularly in the Upstate South Carolina region with BMW and automotive suppliers,” Littleton said.The company started a facility in the Spartanburg Community College business and economic center. It eventually landed in the Hillside Industrial Park with 38,000 square feet. Earlier this year, it grew to occupy a 100,000-square-foot space.Jankel specializes in seats for tactical vehicles, such as Humvees. Five years ago, there was a growing demand for the specialized seating while the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq intensified.“The number one killer of troops was the (improvised explosive device), so there was a big push from the government for protection for the soldiers, so we were able to produce specified seating that absorbs the shock,” Littleton said. “It gives soldiers a tremendous survival advantage.”Littleton said statistics on survival rates among soldiers in the BLAST seating is classified, but he said the company regularly receives letters from soldiers and their families on how valuable the product has been.“We've been the number one (BLASTech) seat supplier in the U.S. over the past three years,” said Littleton, adding the company delivered 40,000 seats in the first 18 months of production.

As the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq winds down, the company has seen a decline in BLAST seat orders, although they're still in lighter demand and production is on-going at the Dunca n facility. The company has been able to shift its focus to armored vehicles, upfitting Toyotas and Jeeps, for example, with transparent armor (or bullet resistant) and hot-formed armor and windows.Once the vehicle arrives at the plant, employees strip it down then install armor and specialized equipment for the Department of Defense, state department, Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Central Intelligence Agency and other agencies that need vehicles in combat zones.Littleton said Jankel's history goes back to 1955 when the father of current company owner, Andy Jankel, designed British limousines, armored cars and specialty vehicles. The company grew and changed, but it still runs like a family-owned business, Littleton said.“When you do what we do everyday, and remember that we have so many employees who have served in the military and understand what it's like to be in the field, it's very important and we take our business seriously,” Littleton said. “We're very motivated by letters and stories that we hear, and when we get a chance to talk about the difference that we're making, that's our job satisfaction.”

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